The imported power from Uzbekistan has increased to 400 megawatts from 300 megawatts, the country’s power distributor, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), announced Monday, quelling complaints from Kabul residents who have been faced with an electricity shortage over the last few weeks.   

DABS said in a statement that the power was reduced due to technical issues in Uzbekistan’s power distribution devices.  

Power outages will be reduced in the city, DABS said.

Most parts of Kabul had only 20 minutes of electricity in recent days due to technical problems and electricity outages. 

Data has indicated that in the past 18 years, the international community spent about $4 billion on Afghanistan’s electricity infrastructure. 

Critics noted that DABS, Afghanistan’s main power supply company, pays $100 million to Uzbekistan annually, but the company was unable to provide any information about when the power shortage would be fixed.

Before the outage, Afghanistan imported 450 megawatts of power from Uzbekistan. With the cut from Uzbekistan, now the government has only the capacity to provide 160 megawatts from domestic sources.  

In the past 18 years, Afghanistan has imported power from Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan but has not invested in its own resources.   

Annually, Afghanistan spent $300 million for imported power from other countries.